Water-measuring tank



March 18, 1930. G. E. WEBB WATER MEASURING TANK 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oc. l2, 1925 March 18, 1930. E. WEBB 1,750,979

WATER MEASURING TANK Filed oct. 12, 192e s sheets-sheet 2 Illl T 1H: T 4. 6 'nl Q 'b [79, ,kn N3 EWbb.

3 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. 12, 1925 duo! wmp Patented Mar. 18, 1930 GEORGE E. WEBB, F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNGR'TO KOEHBING COMPANY,

OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 'WATER-MEASUBING TAN K Application led Octoler 12, 1926. Serial No. 141,189.

The present invention appertains to improvements in water tank measuring apparatus for concrete mixers. Concrete engineers have long since recognized therdesirability of using an accurately measured quantity of water in the mixing of batches of cement, because of the relation it has to the strength of the material in the structure or other completed work. It is no *longer feasible in major operations to ignore the water content of the mix or to allow the operator of the mixer to control this on a guesswork basis. Control on this basis is all the more diiicult when it is considered that the water content is a variable factor which depends upon the type of cement work to be done. For these reasons concrete mixing apparatus embody, or should embody, water tanks the capacity of which is accuratel predetermined and these are designed wit a view of aording a quick measuring water receptacle for the 1ndividual batches of the mix in which provision is made for ready variation of the measuring compartment.

The object of these improvements is to provide a Water measuring tank of this type which will insure a very accurate measuring of the required amount of water to be delivered to the mixing drum, novel means being 3o embodied in the construction for varying the capacity of the measuringvcom artment at will, while maintaining an equa izing pressure at opposite sides of the capacity varying y means.

An important feature of my invention resides in the utilization with my water tank above referred to of an automaticair pressure system which in the preferred form of my apparatus embodies the principle of trapping ofthe air displaced from the water compartment by the filling thereof with the measured quantity o water.

More speciically, my invention comprises a water tank of suitable size which is divid- 4 45 ed interiorly by a movable partition into two compartments, one ofwhich constitutesthe measuring compartment and the other a displacement compartment in which excess or surplus water is tra ped. This arrangement 5o is modiiied when air pressure is to be used tion will be hereinafter set forth and thenovel features thereof dened by the appended claims.

In the accompanyingdrawin s: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of my invention;

' Figure 2 is a transverse sectlonal the plane indicated by-.the line 2-2 of Fig- Aure 1;

view on l Figure 3 is a transverse sectional -view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modification of the device wherein the inner sleeve or cylinder is dispensed with;

of Figure 4.;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the leak-proof clamp arrangement for -the tank head;

' Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modied form of tank embodying the automatic air pressure system;

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are sectional views on the respective lines 8-8, 9--9 and 10-,10 of Figure7gand y Figure 11 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing a modilied type of piston with a supplemental water port and coacting check valve therein.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing. .Y

Referring to the drawings and to that form of the invention disclosed in Figure l of the same,.1 designates/a water tank of proper capaclty and coniguration to serve the mixer with which it is equipped. The tank is preferably cylindrical in form and open at one end, the metal at said end being ianged out# wardly as indicated at 2. A closure head 3 of special construction with which a ring 4 cooperates to grip the flange 2, serves to tightly closethe end of the tank. Suitable bolts 5 pass through the ring and head to. securely 17 Figure 5 1s a sectlonal view on the line 55 v clamp the flange 2 and provide a leak-proof ]o1nt. Y Withinthe tank is mounted a cylindrical I sleeve 6 of slightl smaller diameter than the -sage of the liquid between t inner diameter o the tank'so as to leave an appreciable annular space to rovide for pas'- e walls of the 'tank and sleeve. This sleeve 6 is .preferably formed of thin 'resilient sheet metal with la consequent exibility adapting it to conform readily to the shape and to the movements of the piston to be hereinafter described. While this sleeve might readily b'e dispensed Y with, as will be hereinafter shown, for certain reasons to be later set forth I prefer to employ the same. It may be of any desired length, atleast suiicient to accommodate for a full stroke of its piston 7. At one end the sleeve .is outwardly hanged in a fashion similar to the endof the tank and as shown at 8, said flange being received between the tank .flange 2 and the head so as to rmly hold the sleeve in the inwardly extending .spaced position above referred to..

At .the top of the outer' endl of the sleeve', a

' small port-9 is provided, this establishing communication between the interior of the. tank and the interior of the sleeve. As a matter Vof fact the piston 7 divides the tank intov two compartments, one of'which I shall term the, measuring 4.c'omltilartrnent, that designated" e-displacement compart- 10, andfthelotheaf ton rod being formed'witli teethv 134 tozptf'v `i I the inner .end of the shaft "ll'cooperatesl able plug tonl 7 islvariableand by of this fact the @Passw/@heimwee ,compartmentlo' maybe modiiied as desir' withn the range .Te-adius'tle" Pista fthie .p s. connected thereto .passesthrough' the head 3 l and int-0 the tublar extension 3 detachablyse-f cured to said head-,the 'upper edge offsaidlpis a rack with which.thepinion'limouiited mon shaft has its bearing' at fonind ina-remo through the.fstui ling box .'1'7 andthe 'outer,

bearing-IQJ smaller pinion 20adj acent this bearing'lmeshes with the peripheral 21 m of an indicator-disk 22g- This diskissuitably 1- calibrated in' terms of gallons ori-"any other arbitrary .scale and the* 'desiredfindicia 2 3@Y '-provided` on its outerfacetocoact Vthe z stationary pointer-'24.1 f-Prleferablythe ratio 'of the gearing is suoli-.that one completerevof y lution of liskf22` is "conveniently mounted upona' bracket 25":secured`1 beneath the head bolts'representsone complete stroke of the piston. Atthe end of the shaftll is' provided. a hand "wheel 1.26, the operation of whichwill `shift th ep'is ton '.7 vinwardly orf out wardlyro'ffthe 'sleevef'and it follows that when-moved Airivfrardlythe capacity .of ,the measuring compartment 10k ...is reduced andV Iii-aialcated inthe head 3-andf passes ofthe water.

when moved outwardly its capacity 'iis-increased.

In the operation of this construction, thev water is supplied from a suitable'source leadmg to the three-way valve 27 of known construction a'nd through' the pipe 28 letting into the bottom of the compartment 10, the capacity of whichhas been vreviously settled upon according to the wor to be served by suitable. adjustment of the. piston 7. 'The waterV lls the compartment and when it Areaches the level of the opening 9 in the sleeve 6 it passes into the displacement compartmentll. This arrangement affords a balanced pressure at opposite sides of the piston 7. This feature of the present construction l. is of considerable importance because it will be obvious that if the 'water was not allowed to passover into the displacement compart ment there would be a tendency to move the piston'7 under the intlu' ce of the water pressure head. As it stan s the pressure isv exerted in all directions uniformly excepting when the measuring compartment is discharged when the'pressure is entirely relieved except thatwhiclris due to the static head elsewhere ,by shiftingfthe. three-way valve, i allowing thewater to"pass"throulli1 thepipe 128 t0. theY maar. pipe. :30,123

the measuring compartment'lO the piston esurpluswater trapped'in the' displacement compartmentl-isexpelled throu h the open- 1ng9finto` the compartment 10 an passes out therefrom' v,the nextsdischarge Vof lthe contents of'this' compartinent.f.V f l `In-.fthe redu ion"` f. hecapacityof the compartment 10,the piston 'isA moved to ythe and inthe next ofthe tank the void m the compartment 11v 'is filled by o ve'rflc` w `into the same through' the opening 9.

moved toward the right and in soldoing.

g to. the

At ,oneend of the tank I provide anauto- -mat'i air vvalve 31 of ya'kn'own type which allowsthe air to pass but operatesas `vacheck when the water level. reaches the same "and acts uponthe valve member'to preventescape As hereinbefore'- premised,v the inner sleeve 6 shown vin Figure I1. ma be dispensed with if tanks ofsuicient uni vorlnity and smoothness of bore can be secured. The inner sleeve A `Vrra'ngmnre'nlhOWW ri-.flOmthe manufactur- "es standpoint@ a number of advaniso 11 'it S'deSIed to increase the capacity tages because it, the sleeve, may be made of very thin metal of a non-corroslve character, and by reason of its thinness it will shape itself to the piston as the latter is moved from one point to another in the operation of variation of the capacity of the tank. While the gauge of the metal used in these tanks is fairly heavy, nevertheless it not infrequently occurs that they are slightly dented and this would of course inter ere with the adjustment of a piston if the walls of the tank were depended upon to serve as the cylinder for the piston. Furthermore, which is carried in by the water will naturally settle in the outer measuring compartment from which it is washed each time the tank is filled and emptied. Wear upon the cylinder or sleeve is therefore practically eliminated. Other advantages might well be mentioned but do not appear necessary to a further understanding of the utility of the device.

However, in Figure 4 I have illustrated the form taken by a water measuring tank of this type which is not provided with an inner sleeve cylinder for the piston. In this form the tank 1a is rovided withv a smooth finish to snugly receive the piston 7a which is of a type embodying the spaced plates 7 b between which is disposed the expansible packing 7c. Provision is made for taking up the wear on the packing by causing an adjustment of the plates '7b through the instrumentality of the rod-12b which passes through a bore in the piston rod '12a and carries an adjusting nut 12c at its outer end. By the removal of the cap 3" from the end of the tubular .extension 3a access to the adjusting nut .12 is se cured and the adjustment of said nut against the end of the piston rod 12 will cause a clamping action or pressure to be exerted upon the packing tending to squeeze it outwardly.

This form of the device difers in another essential respect, namely in themethodvof ycommunication between the opposite sides of the piston or in other words between the measuring compartment 10a and the displacement compartment 11". It will be observed that the water enters the iirst named compartment through the opening 28B and, into the compartmentllEL by way of the pipe connection 32 which leads to the stand pipe 33 projecting vertically*` withinv the compartment 11a. This provides for maintenance of the water supply in the displacement compartment during the use of the apparatus. As the water moves into the displacement compartment the air is allowed to escape therefrom by way of the passage 34 which leads to the special air relief valve 35 corresponding to the valve 31 described in connection with the first mentioned form of this device. This valve of course prevents the water from passing out when the measuring compartment 10a has beenl lledpalthough the any sediment l placement compartment.

water may also pass over to the displacement compartment by way of the pipe 34 when the level reaches the hei ht of the passage, insuring a complete illlng of the displacement compartment'. 7o

Figure 6 of the drawings discloses more clearly the manner in which the head 3a of the tank is clamped around the flanged rim 2a so as to provide a leak-proof joint. It will be observed in this figure that a gasket 2"of 75 the ordinary sheet material is interposed be.- tween the ange and the head and is overlapped by an annular ring 3b formed on the inner side of the tank head.

In Figure 11 I have depicted a modified 80 form of piston construction wherein a transverse opening 7d is provided. It will be obvious that this is particularly designed for use in conjunction with those tanks whichl are placed vertically and that the water will pass in one direction through this opening into the displacement compartment but not 1n the reverse direction in View of the use of the check v valve 36 coacting with said opening.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the operation of both forms of the device hereinbefore set forth is practically the same.

I have depicted in Figure 7, however, a form of measuring tank which does differ from the preceding ones in an essential respect although it embodies nevertheless the identical principle of operation, speaking with reference to the method of securin a measured quantity of the water through t e instrumentality of a measuring compartment and a dis- Referring to Figures 7 to 9 inclusive, the tank 37 is provided with a central partition 38 whichis of concavo-convex form and .this Vpartition divides' the tank into the water 105 measuring section A and the air pressure sec- 4 tion B. lIn the former compartment vis mounted in spaced relation to the walls of the tank a sleeve or cylinder 39 open at one end and closed by the head 40 at the other end. '110 Thisv head is secured to the partition 38 by means of the bolt or other fastening device 41 and supported at its other end by the bracket 42. As will be observed by reference to Figure 9, the sleeve 39 is-a split sleeve between 115 the adjoining edges ofpwhich is disposed a longitudinal spline or key 42 whichv coacts with the adjustable piston 43 to prevent rotation thereof. The piston is mounted upon the screw shaft or rod 44 which has its bear- 120 ing at lone end in the head 40 for the sleeve and at its other end in the removable head 45 .for the tank. Said shaft carries at its outer extremity the hand wheel 46 by 4means of which the shaft may be rotated to shift the piston 43 in one direction or .the other 'for the purposes of varying the capacity of the measuring compartment. j

As in the previous instances, the adjustment of the piston is indicatedupon the in- B30 i clearly in. Figures 7 "and'8. 'Thetrapping'of v the air atjth'erinner end of the sleeve 391er the' displacementA compartment is prevented byv thev provisioniof'-'a.sl 'io 'i"t' outletv tube 4 '1 ."-1 f:

It will beobserved 'thatlthe'fclosurefo the opeii. end ofthe @ik DIS fOim ih df .vice S is cfa 1radically different-construction' --froiii-- that of ther previous-1 foriiigfThe tank 1 embodies anfoval shaped opening the which are flanged inwardly tocoactwijthe head 45 vwhich is in thenature'ofamxhol y31;."I n'jl-iqiiid cover.` .This cover is'capable ofvb'ein'geasily lass described, the-com vlin ajmannercoa ' althoughthe waterv 'ofth valve49 is p .-dica'tor arranged AiiiA associi'ition` 'the pis"-l ton' rod in a' conventional' manneras shown :inserted in` the ovalopen' quite well known and is heldv iiiplace iagain'st the'edge'of the tank ,openingby' means ofthe b tins-slamp 45 topass into the pressure-com artii'ient.

recludedfrom following, Forcoiivenience purposes the line 4.8extends any waterwhich l may obtainl access !tofthe" compartment B and collect therein'during the vacuum created byl lth'e discharge lofroxr'icoinpart-ment. "sa further connectie the tank-f' Water-.inboth compartments to be drained ofi f bfanywevll knbwn'variety and is placed so flow through pipe51 from -toprevent the tothe other; j `This drain -In'theo era d `apparent/t atjitjis' first necessaryto "ad]ust regulate vthe capacity of the L nieasuringcompartment in thetank section A so' that it will give an accurately'determineddesired quantity of water. The water is then admitted 4through the opening 28? and alfes Patenti 1.;the.'edilistini;'haltei l f ing compartment,

i e connection whenjfit reac e'svthelevel water between c'oi'npartinent.sA and' B, designated Y .51.'-A vThis' connectionallowsv the be Afacilitated.l by 100senoperation is new'alloli'ivedI` to act upon the 'waterin compartment ,Aqto vaccelerate of course is of considerable advantage in view fthe mixer drum must be eiected within a y, short period off timeto allowior the r'oper mixing of; the concrete' aii'dj'aggregates efore the drumfcontent's'are discharged..

Iiclain'i as secure' byLetters natio gof'a" tank having apartitioii therein, di ing said tank into measuring compartment and `a presg `s ure equalizing compartment, means in said Itheliquidtoiop osite sides ofthe vcapacity varying' -ineans;- or equaliz'ing the ressur'e thereon' '-i'ntlie 'measuring v operation and during -the discharge ofthe measuring compartment.-

jhavin'g a measuring compartment provided with a discharge opening, a movable member in said tank for'var, ing the capacity' of said '-compartmentfand' orming' a wall therefor, said member remaining stationaryJ after once being set for a certain capacity, and means forming aV passage vwhich v establishes communication between'v the measuring compart- -ment andthe side ofthe movable member opposite themeasuring compartment.

vclass described, the combination of a tank, a movable member' mounted therein contacting the sidesof the tankand dividing the tank into opposin compartments atA opposite sides able member' to vary. the capacity of the compartments` Vand v'for introducing liquid into and discharging theysame from both said compartments. 1

4, In liquid measuring apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank, a

tank into opposing compartments, meansfor "introducing and discharging liquid from one the' delivery of the water tothe drum. This of theffact that the chargingof the'water into Having thus1aescritedmymvenaon, what Y vapparatus ofthe B` class described, the com ination of a tank of said mem er, means for shifting the movtank for varying' the capacity oi said measurand means for admitting 3. In li' uid measuring apparatus ofthe i iio ' movable member mounted therein contacting the sides of the tank and' dividing 'the I of said compartments, and means for intro ducing liquid into the opposing compartment as an incident to the filling of the-other, said last named means being arranged to retain the liquid in said opposing compartment' ,during discharge from said vother compartment-. \'v

'5. In'li uid measurin vapparatus of the class described, the com 'ination of a tank, 'a' movable member dividing said tank into opposing cmpartinents'one of which constitutes a. measuring compartment .and the other a liquid trapping c0mpartment, means liquid from one of said compartments intol the other. l

6. In li uid measurin apparatus of the class described, the com ination of a tank,

a movable member dividing said tank into opposing compartments one of whichconstitutes a measuring compartment, Waterlinlet and discharge openings for said compartments, and means for shifting the movable member to vary the capacity of the measuring compartment, said movable member constituting water displacement means for ex.

pelling surplus water from the other compartment when moved to vary the capacity of the measuring compartment, but said member remaining stationary during repetitive charging and discharging operations of the same capacity.

7 In liquid measuring apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank having a measuring compartment, a piston for varying the capacity of said compartment, and a flexible sleeve which said piston is mounted.

8. In liquid measuring apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank having a measuring compartment, a piston for varying the capacity of said compartment, and an aperture sleeve to receive the piston mounted in said tank in spaced relation to the walls thereof to provide an annular passage having communication with the interior of the sleeve.

9. In liquid measuring apparatus of the class'described, the' combination of a tank having a measuring compartment, ai sleeve mounted in said tank having one end opening into the measuring compartment, closure means for measuring compartment of said tank, the other end of said sleeve havin a liquid trapping compartment therein, an a piston member mounted in said sleeve for varying the capacity of the measuring compartment.

10. Inli uid measuring apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank having a measuring compartment, closure means fori said tank, a sleeve mounted in said tank having one end opening into the measuring compartment, the other end of said sleevehaving a liquid trapping compartment therein, a piston member mounted in said sleeve for varying the capacity of the measuring compartment, and means mounted on sai tank closure means for shifting the piston to vary the capacity of said measuring compartment.

11. In li uid measuring apparatus of the class descri ed, the combinationof a tank having a measuring compartment, closure' means for saidtank, a sleeve mountedin saidy tank having one end opening into the measur. ing compartment, the other endof said sleeve having a liquid trapping compartment therein, a piston member mounted in said sleeve for varying the capacity of the measuring compartment, and means mounted on said tank closure .means for shifting the piston to vary the capacity of said measurin compartment, said last named means including an indicator device operable bythe shifting means to predetermine the capacity of the measuring compartment.

12. In li uid measuring apparatus of the class descri ed, the combination of a tank, means dividing the tank into opposing compartments, means in one of said compartments providing a variable capacity chamber having a water inlet and discharge opening, said last named means comprising a piston and 'cylinder construction, said piston providing compartments Within the cylinder on both .s1des thereof and arranged so that the water 1s admitted to the said compartments 'at opposite sides of the piston, and means on said tank for passing the air from the said chainber into one of said compartments incident to filling of water thereinto, whereby to provide a pressure head for facilitating the discharge of water from said chamber.

13. In a water measuring device for concrete mixers, the combination of a tank having an air compartment and a water measuring compartment, means establishing communication between said compartments, and means in the measuring compartment for varying the measuring capacity of the compartment, said means includinga piston and a sleeve, said sleeve being open at one end to' the water measuring compartment and havlng at its other end a water trapping chamber.

14'. In a water measuring device for con- 'crete mixers, the combination of a tank hav'- 1ng an air compartment and a water measuring compartment, means establishing communication between said compartments and maintaining said communication during the discharge of the measuring compartment, and means in the measuring compartmnt for, varying the measuring capacity of the compartment comprising a sleeve, a piston mounted in said sleeve, rotatable means for actuating the piston to shift it to and fro in saidA sleeve, and means on said sleeve for holding the piston against rotation.

15. In a water measuring device for concrete mixers, the combination of a tank having an air compartment and a water measuring compartment, means establishing commeans in the measuring compartment for varying the measuring capacity of the compartment comprising a sleeve, a iston' mounted therein, -a screwv shaft for shifting havin I ber at 4its side opposite the measuringcom a discharge the piston to and fro for 1' measuring capacity of the measuring .Icompartment and an indicator device cooperating with said shaft. l'

16. In a water measuring device-for concrete mixers or the like, the combination ofa tank, a partition in said tank dividing the' same into separate compartments, `a WatanA inlet and discharge openingfor one of said* compartments, an' air inlet for'the-other of'- said com artments, means inthe compartment having the water inlet and dischait'ge e opening for. variably predetermining measuring ca means inclu g a piston and cylinder con.

struction, the air from the compartment'con'- taining vthe cpaci varying means bein displaced by of water into sai acity of said compartment, said nient, a' membertlierein constituting. Y n'ning wall ofsai'dcompartment, means for shifting said member torvary the capacityv of thev measuring compartment, said member .j

remaining stationaryafter once being set for@ a given-capacity, an air compartment means forming Aa communicatingpassag e between said com artments and means for ing'liqui into said measuring compartment-, x

thereby displacing-the air therefrom a'nd intor` the "air compartment vto Vestablish a 11e-thereinfor Subsequentlypeering-thdischlrge of liquidfrom the measuring. e0m

partment."

vIn testimony compartment and being trapped in the other of said compartments, and means for-discharging the water from the measuring eoinl Plspartment under-the in uence of the, sure from the other compartment.V

17.'A water measuring tank'for v:concrete- 'I metal of the sleeve allowing the r'ylfallsthere@ -v of to' confoi'mto .the shape' it moves in the `same. v 18. In-.li uid m class descri d,f the combination offa tankj a iiuid-gmeasiiring compartmenljaimovab e member in said constituting a conininwali' of said compartment', said' member ing shiftable to. vary its capacity, and means forsubjecting the movable mem-1 partment to pressure'v eounterbalancingthe pressure exerted Vby' the fluid being measured measuring [apparatus i of the 19. In class 'descri thecombin'ation of `ataiik, aimovable pistonin said tank; thetank-li'aving opening at -oneisideso'f thev moi;-v

- able piston and means forfestablishing communicaton between'said side' of the vtand' the tank' at the op ite side ofthemovable piston, whereby' t e movable piston-'iis sua;

)ecte'dtoV pressures onits opposi Y operations. Y

-faces during.

vand; discli'ar 'ng opera-'r tions, the communicationesitablis means being adaptedfto maintain said communication throughoutsaid llling and discharging 20. Liquid ;apparatu's'ziof" the?A class described', comprising, incombination,

a piston mounted in said sleeve, and means for shifting-the piston to L and fro in said's1ee`ve, the thinness of the L whereof I' aix my signature." 

